Fall of 2011 - Two teams that had yet to win a game all season met during the "Battle for the Basement". It was an offensive filled game, lots of dropped balls and missed opportunities and one giant Nathaniel Johnson bomb. The final result though was an 8-7 win for the CG's.
Spring 2012 - CG's hit a pocket of runs behind Matt MacDougall and Geoff Morehart and rack up an 8-1 win over the rebuilding Foul Balls.
Fall 2012 - This may have been one of the most exciting games ever played by the CG's when a diving Buster Patterson gave the Gangsters a walk-off 2-1 win for the ages.
Spring 2013 - Foul Balls had enough of the CG's 6 game winning streak and took them to the woodshed with a big 7-3 win.
Fact: Foul Balls and Chubby Gangsters have met 10 times before this season with CG's having the slight advantage at 6 wins to the FB's 4 wins.
If history tells us anything, their 11th meeting this passed Wednesday would be another nail biter.
The game started with a great play by Nick Anderson at catcher to get the ever feared Joe Presault out. Things looked good for the Gangsters defensively. Sometimes though, even the best defenses can't stop a well placed kick. Which is exactly what happened with the base runner on 3rd (some guy, I can't remember his name) and Jesse Rogers kicks a bullet right down the 3rd base line. There wasn't a prayer for anyone to get it and the runner scores to give the Foulies the early 1-0 lead.
CG's managed to get a few runners on in the Bottom of the 1st, but the Foulies defense held strong and kept their lead. The start of 2nd inning started right where the 1st left off for the Green Ones. Niko Nadal kicked a ball deep down the 1st baseline that landed right on the foul line and then bounced over the right fielders head, and if it wasn't for Nic slipping at second base, it most assuredly would have been a homerun. Alas, it was just a stand-up triple. No worries though, Derek Patterson kicks a ball deep enough to score him on the very next play to put the Foul Balls up 2-0.
Bottom of the 2nd and Top of the 3rd would prove fruitless for both clubs on the offensive side of the ball. Bottom 3 saw Geralyn Mitchell leading off with a bunt and a perfect example why you run out every play and saw her reach safely on 1st. David Tortolini bunts to get on right behind her and the big leg of Jason Lantz sends a screaming line drive to center field to score Geralyn. With runners on 1st and 2nd, Andy Kyser bunted down first to bring Dave around 3rd and potentially tie it up. Unfortunately, there was a little run in on the sideline (literally) and Dave couldn't make it home in time and was tagged on a close play at home to keep the Foul Balls lead at 2-1.
Top 4 sees the bottom of the Foulies lineup against the CG's effective defense. They get the first two kickers out and in a fit of strategy decide to walk the final female in their lineup, and then walk their lead off kicker to get to Wade Brock. With 2 runners on and 2 outs, anything deep in theory is caught and a bunt should simply be a well played 3rd out. Well, the CG's didn't expect ol' Wade Brock to drop a nice bunt and actually get on to load the bases. The CG sideline is buzzing with "what if's" because if the strategy works and they get the next female out then they successfully wasted the top of the Foulies lineup. However, if it doesn't work and she comes up with a great kick then the whole plan backfires and the decision will be the subject of ridicule for weeks to come. Luckily for the Gangsters, they successfully get the kicker out to end the half of the inning. Unluckily for the Gangsters, they ate up so much of the time clock, they would not get to play a 5th inning and this would be their last chance to make something happen.
The bottom of the Chubby lineup comes up to kick and wow do they deliver. "Magic" Mikey Nobile comes up with a clutch line drive kick to reach first base easily and in an overthrow of sorts Mikey takes 2nd with a slide that would make Channing Tatum proud (luckily he wasn't wearing a kilt). Tiffany Morehart gets up and puts a deep bunt down 3rd to get on and bridge the gap to the top of their lineup. Anthony Leevy redeems a base running mistake in his first at bat by kicking a ball that brings Mikey around to tie up the game, unfortunately Tiffany was thrown out at 2nd to give the CG's 2 outs and would ultimately end the rally and end the game in a 2-2 tie.
Another epic game in the books for the Green and Blue, but a first in the rivalry with a game ending in a tie. That just means both teams have unfinished business waiting to be cleared in Spring 2014!
Tiffany Morehart: "I hate ties."
Andy Kyser: "Yeah, it's not a loss, but it definitely doesn't feel like a win."
Kim Merritt: "Yeah, it's like kissing your sister."
Jiselle Anderson: "But you guys came back to tie, so at least you have that."
Kim Merritt: "Fine, it's like kissing your really hot sister."
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